Saarah 'MadMax' Kariem, a rising star in South African combat sports, is preparing to compete at the Fighters Club's Battle at the Island: Fight Like A Woman event on August 8th at GrandWest Casino. She recently achieved significant success by securing a spot in the WBC world rankings.
The South African Boxing Federation (BSA) congratulated Kariem (3-0) after the 22-year-old athlete made it into the WBC rankings last month. Previously ranked 15th, she is now positioned 16th in the Super Featherweight division of the World Boxing Council (WBC). Her compatriot, current IBO World Champion in the Super Featherweight category, Bernice Ferreira (10-0), holds the 4th spot in this ranking.
BSA noted that the inclusion of both Saarah Kariem and Bernice Ferreira in the global WBC rankings is a proud achievement for South African boxing, especially for women in the sport. According to BSA, the recognition of two South African women among the world elite reflects the high quality of local talent.
Kariem has established herself as one of the outstanding promising athletes in Cape Town's developing combat sports scene. Starting her professional career under the guidance of her father, trainer and experienced martial artist Zane Kariem, she has made a substantial impact on the sport. Competing under the alias 'MadMax,' she has earned respect both inside and outside the ring, honing her skills not only in boxing but also in kickboxing.
Since debuting in professional boxing in April 2025, Kariem has remained undefeated, securing three wins in three bouts. Beyond technical skills, she has become a notable figure in the sport, enjoying strong support at events and building a loyal online audience. In modern combat sports, where athletic achievements often go hand-in-hand with marketability, such support is an invaluable asset. The growth in popularity of combat sports, fueled by international stars and former South African UFC champion Dricus du Plessis, has accelerated this trend.
Saarah Kariem expressed her gratitude, stating that she is incredibly fortunate and thankful for entering the WBC world rankings at such an early stage of her career. She called it a dream she had nurtured since putting on boxing gloves and considers it a huge milestone in her life.
BSA emphasized that Saarah's achievement is inspiring, and her place in the WBC Top-15 speaks to her dedication to the sport. She represents the next generation of female athletes capable of competing and being noticed on the world stage. BSA also noted that Bernice Ferreira's journey is equally impressive, as she overcame difficulties to become the IBO World Champion through years of effort and perseverance.
Entering the WBC rankings places Kariem among the leading contenders in super featherweight. A spot in the Top-15 allows her to be considered for qualifying fights and future opportunities to win a world championship title, according to WBC rules. This is a significant moment for women's boxing in South Africa, given that Kariem is just beginning her international journey.
According to the WBC, world rankings are compiled by the WBC Rankings Committee, which analyzes fighters' performances monthly. When determining rankings, the committee takes into account several factors: the quality of opponents, results from regional and championship bouts, activity and consistency in the ring, as well as overall potential and progress in the division. These criteria are assessed comprehensively to accurately reflect a fighter's standing among top world contenders.
Brad Dayan Norman, CEO of Warrior Ascent Promotions and Chairman of WBC Cares South Africa, expressed delight over Kariem's success. He views it as an amazing achievement that motivates her to work even harder and believes she will solidify her ranking in the next fight for the Western Cape title.
Norman referenced Kariem's next match—a historic event for women's boxing in South Africa called Battle at the Island, scheduled for August 8th at the Grand Arena in Goodwood, Cape Town. It is expected to be one of the largest women's combat sports shows in the Mother City, where Kariem will face Samkelo Mbambo for the vacant Western Cape junior lightweight title under the Fighters Club Fight Like a Woman banner. In the evening main event, Simangele Khadibe and Owen Rula will compete for the WBF World Flyweight Championship in a 10-round bout. The evening program includes six fights, featuring several championship bouts and participation from many leading female boxers from the country.
Furthermore, BSA called on the corporate sector to partner in the launch of the 'Women in Boxing' series, which will be held across the country. These all-women events will commence with the first phase on August 1, 2026, in Limpopo, South Africa.
According to a report from Championat.asia, Fabio Cannavaro, the head coach of the Uzbekistan national football team, will continue his work with the team, preparing it for the 2027 Asian Cup.
According to the source, the leadership of the Football Association of Uzbekistan has decided to maintain trust in the Italian specialist. After the 2026 World Cup, Cannavaro will continue to lead the national team as part of the preparation for the next major international tournament—the Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia.
The publication notes that the coaching staff will be tasked with achieving high results at the continental championship, including fighting for the title. It is expected that Cannavaro will develop a plan for the upcoming training camps in the coming days and begin a new stage of preparation. It is reported that the coaching staff will pay special attention to further forming the national team squad and comprehensive preparation for the tournament.
At the time of publication, this information had not yet been officially confirmed by the Football Association of Uzbekistan.
The Uzbekistan national team is demonstrating a worthy performance at the 'Interamnia World Cup' handball tournament, which is taking place in the city of Teramo, Italy.
More than 450 teams and about 15 thousand young handball players from nearly 100 countries are participating in the competition. Our country's team is defending the honor of the Motherland.
During the qualifying matches, Uzbekistan's handball players achieved victories over teams from countries such as Italy, Chile, and Germany. In the semi-finals, they faced the Danish team.
In yesterday's match, the 'RKOR Tashkent' team defeated European representatives with a score of 34:21. Thanks to this, Uzbekistan has advanced to the final of the 'Interamnia World Cup – 2026', which is being held for the 53rd time.
The issue of establishing an FC Barcelona football academy in Uzbekistan was discussed during an online meeting via the Zoom platform. Participants in the event included the Minister of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, A. Ikromov, the First Vice President of the Uzbekistan Football Association, Ravshan Ermatov, a representative of the executive management of FC Barcelona, Cesar Martinez, and Albert Mundet, the director of 'Barca Innovation Hub'—the club's knowledge, scientific research, and innovation platform.
During the negotiations, possibilities for implementing the 'Barça Academy' project of FC Barcelona in the country were examined with the aim of developing children's and youth football in Uzbekistan, training young players according to international standards, and introducing modern football methodologies.
Opinions were shared regarding the experience of 'Barça Academy' in areas such as the academy's operations, its educational system, coach qualification improvement, implementation of modern football philosophy, and the selection of talented athletes.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties discussed future directions for cooperation, including studying the possibilities of implementing the 'Barça Academy' project in Uzbekistan, developing football among children and adolescents, improving the qualifications of local coaches, and expanding international partnerships in the field of football.
